The first iOS 4.3 beta this week includes references to a new "Find My Friends" feature tied to MobileMe, as well as two new iPhone and three new iPad models.

Find My Friends

Hidden in the native Settings application of the first iOS 4.3 beta is a reference to a new "Find My Friends" feature, discovered by MacRumors. The strings for Find My Friends are associated with MobileMe, suggesting that the service would be tied to Apple's $99-per-year service.

The name suggests the feature could be similar to existing products like Google Latitude or Loopt. The official Google Latitude application was initially rejected from the iPhone App Store, but Apple eventually approved the software in December.

Apple's interest in a location-sharing service was detailed by AppleInsider in December, in a patent application filing with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Referred to in the documentation as "Friend Locator," the service would use Apple's push notification service to share their location with friends via GPS.

iOS 4.3 beta references new iPhone, iPad models

Also uncovered in the pre-release software are references to new models for the iPhone and iPad, as uncovered by Engadget. The beta features identifiers for two new iPhones and three iPads.

The iPhones are known as "iPhone4,1" and "iPhone4,2," while the just-announced CDMA handset headed to Verizon on Feb. 10 is referred to as "iPhone3,3." The lack of reference to an "iPhone4,3" is also of note.

The code also reveals three new iPads, referred to as "iPad2,1," "iPad2,2," and "iPad2,3." The first-generation iPad is currently available in two variants: a Wi-Fi-only model, and one with an added 3G radio compatible with GSM-based carriers, like AT&T in the U.S.

This week, a Verizon executive let slip that Apple plans to release a new iPad with a CDMA radio built in, to allow the hardware to connect to its network. That new CDMA iPad could represent the third model referenced in the iOS 4.3 beta.

Looking forward to iOS4.3, I like the concept of 5 fingered controlling and navigation.

Apple just continues innovating. Can't wait for iPad2, I have bought 3, sent 2 to Russia, and have to fight my kids and wife for the other one.

My 7 year old knows how to use it as well as my iPhone, no manuals, a minute training and she is off and running. Isn't that what good software is about ?

User friendliness, simple and no manual, just explore and quickly learn, however the haters confuse this with what they term a "toy". I feel sorry for them, they are so ignorant and just do not get it and will never be the wiser.

I discovered Apple in 1999, and have never regretted this.

I am constantly in awe-struck of their innovations.

As a computer programmer I appreciate good UI design and robust and well thought out architecture and code, it is obvious to all that Apple are the creme-de-le-creme.

"Find My Friends" sounds like it can be used by a paranoid spouse to check up on the other one.

I know you're joking but I use Find My iPhone to locate my wife about once every few months - usually when she's late. The kids will gather around and we'll locate her phone and follow her progress back to the house. Saves an annoying phone call to my wife and distracts the kids from the wait.

Remember a time before cell phones and how you made plans to meet a friend at a particular location and time and somehow you were able to do without relying on ten phone calls (where are you?, you said to call you when I got to main street now you are not answering your phone, OMG). Let's add a track device that will eliminate that desperate call and replaces it with (just track me when I get downtown and we can hook up). All of this "convenience" seems like like a lot more work and less efficient than, "meet you at the corner of main and high street 12 o'clock."

Jealous boyfriends and girlfriends you just got a new tool to broaden your suspicions that your mate "may" be cheating. Have fun.

I know you're joking but I use Find My iPhone to locate my wife about once every few months - usually when she's late. The kids will gather around and we'll locate her phone and follow her progress back to the house. Saves an annoying phone call to my wife and distracts the kids from the wait.

A decade and a half of Apple being obscenely secretive on future products isn't enough of a clue for you?

Uh no. A CDMA version of the iPad does not really count as a new product that they would necessarily keep secret, and it certainly could be something they agreed to go public with at the same time as the iPhone partnership announcement.

The "find my iPhone" feature does not require a paid MobileMe account any more. I assume that this will not either.

I also have tracked my wife on her journey home from late night events. I started it since she has the habit of forgetting to turn the iPhone back on. She appreciates a hot cup of teat that is waiting as she enters the door.

Uh no. A CDMA version of the iPad does not really count as a new product that they would necessarily keep secret, and it certainly could be something they agreed to go public with at the same time as the iPhone partnership announcement.

Then Verizon or Apple would have told us about the Verizon iPhone in 2008 when negotiations began agan.

Then Verizon or Apple would have told us about the Verizon iPhone in 2008 when negotiations began agan.

It isn't public yet, so your second suggestion isn't valid, either.

Are you really trying to make that argument? Seriously?

A) Announce Verizon iPhone in 2008 when negotiations have begun but there are still open technological and business hurdles that could cause delays or perhaps kill the deal.

Announce CDMA iPad in 2011, presumably after technical testing and after a business agreement has been reached, and after Verizon has been selling iPads for a few months and has announced a CDMA iPhone.

Yeah, these are real comparable.

And the CDMA iPad is NOT PUBLIC YET? HUH? How do WE know about it since we are not insiders?

Then Verizon or Apple would have told us about the Verizon iPhone in 2008 when negotiations began agan.

That makes no sense. The difference here is the iPhone (and perhaps iPad, we don't know) negotiations are concluded. My point is that if the author of the article has evidence that the announcement was a slip, he should so state. If that is his conclusion based on Apple's years of secrecy or his flip of a coin, he should state that as well.

I'm hoping that with iPad 2.0 Apple has removed the question of WiFi or 3G.

I hope there is a single model with WiFi+GSM+CDMA+GPS.

The only choice is how many GBs.

I think 6 SKUs is too many.

I don't think Apple would add a separate CDMA model and go to 9 iPad SKUs.

There are 3 different new iPad's in iOS 4.3 and the different levels of storage don't count from an OS perspective. Last year we had 2 models in the OS, WIFI and GSM. You can guess what the third will be.